Is Karnataka giving green nod to projects in a hurry?

The study, which has reviewed minutes of meetings of project clearance proceedings by the SEIAA, Karnataka, for the first quarter of 2015, found that on an average 97% of the projects get approved.TNN | July 07, 2016, 11:30 IST

BENGALURU: Getting environment clearance for any project, be it mining, quarrying or mega constructions, seems to be very easy in Karnataka. While project proponents say this is a positive trend, a recent analysis by Delhi-based EIA Resource and Response Centre (ERC), which keeps tabs on India's environmental, forest and wildlife clearance processes, says all's not well in the way green nods are being given in Karnataka.

The study, which has reviewed minutes of meetings of project clearance proceedings by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Karnataka, for the first quarter of 2015, found that on an average 97% of the projects get approved.

Expressing shock over the fact that only 16 out of 565 projects from all sectors were rejected during the period under review, the study said: "The 16 projects were rejected because they were environmentally unsustainable. The moot question is whether the cleared projects are environmentally sustainable? The term environmentally unsustainable appears vague and isn't defined in more detail."

SEIAA Karnataka is a three-member body functioning since 2007 under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). It is tasked with giving environment clearances to projects (see box) based on recommendations of a state-level expert appraisal committee (SEAC) comprising subject experts.

Large scale building constructions, stone quarries and sand mining are among major activities that are granted clearance. "It clearly shows the urbanization trend as most of the buildings and constructions have been proposed in and around Bengaluru," the report adds.

According to the study, the environmental clearances are vague in their reasoning. "For example, one of the points state that the committee appraises the proposal after taking into account information provided in the statutory application form -1. The committee, after discussion, decides to recommend the proposal for environmental clearance. This shows how vague EC approvals are. In one of its directives, the National Green Tribunal has stated that appraisal requires application of mind independently. Environment clearance authorities should scrutinize the projects closely. This is not reflected in SEIAA minutes of the meetings in Karnataka," the study says.

The analysis shows while there are cases of clearance for multiple extractions in stone quarrying, details pertaining to quantity of extraction are missing.

"The SEAC needs to do in-depth appraisal of projects and go beyond the documents submitted by project proponents. The proceedings should reflect application of mind and expert reasoning for recommending or declining a proposal," it said.

The ERC study also points to lack of accessibility of information. "Though, it is June 2016, minutes of meetings are available only up to March 2015," it said.

No compromise in reviews: SEIAA

HS Ramesh, chairman, SEIAA, Karnataka, said there was no question of compromise when it came to awarding environment clearance. "You should check the minutes of SEIAA of other states. Our reviews are stronger and more technical compared to theirs," said Ramesh.

Asked how 97% of the projects were cleared in the first quarter of 2015, Ramesh said, "We are not here to reject projects. If there are discrepancies we ask them to go back and correct them. We give approvals only after all rules are complied with."

On no updates on minutes of SEIAA meetings after March 2015, Ramesh, said updates on all states SEIAA proceedings are available in the MoEF website therefore the practice has been discontinued in the state.

About lack of proper explanation for rejecting or accepting project proposals, Ramesh said the proposals first have to pass through the SEAC comprising subject experts. "In many cases, even after the SEAC would have passed a project, we have asked for clarifications before approving the same. There are cases of reassessment too."

Kind of projects

The SEIAA deals with projects like building and construction, townships and area development, industrial estates/ parks/ complexes/ areas, EPZs, SEZs, biotech parks or leather complexes, industrial estates, new state highways and expansion of national or state highways, mining, extraction of natural resources and power generation, river valley projects, thermal power plants, coal washeries, metallurgical industries (ferrous and nonferrous), cement plants, industries of materials processing, units of manufacturing or fabrication. Projects with certain kinds of specifications go to the Union ministry of environment and forests for clearance.

Most projects linked to construction, real estate

The way environment clearance is granted in Karnataka indicates immense building and construction work is going on across the state and more so in and around Bangaluru. Projects like sand mining and stone quarrying too are related to building and construction and create huge stress on water resources. We need to be extra cautious about the environment and natural resources. We are yet to analyze minutes of the meeting of SEIAA of other states. But it looks like major part of clearances in other states too are linked to construction and real estate.